You ask your employees to be in the office from 9 to 5 so everyone can work together and you can get projects done on time. A no-nonsense attendance policy makes sense: it controls costs and keeps things fair.
Unfortunately, no-nonsense attendance policies no longer make sense to employees. Surveys find that flexible attendance is one of the most desirable benefits employers can offer: 76% of workers would stay with their employer if they had more options. Flexibility is also a key driver behind the growth of remote work.
How can flexible attendance improve your workforce? Here are three tangible ways.
Employees Want to Be Trusted
When you have a flexible attendance policy, you must trust that your employees will come in and do the work required. Employees value flexible working not just because it gives them more freedom but also because it demonstrates your trust in them.
By giving your team choices, you may find they’ll not only meet your expectations but exceed them. Happier employees are more productive, and you may see them making the most of their hours, taking on bigger projects, or even bringing new skills to the table.
Gen Z Prioritizes Flexibility
Gen Z is about to arrive in the workforce in big numbers. What do they want? Flexible attendance policies. When do they want them? From Day 1.
If you want to attract top talent from Gen Z, then getting to grips with flexible attendance now will set you apart from other employers and help you keep your talent. It’s important: Gen Z will account for 60 million job seekers over the next 10 years.
Flexible Working Reduces Absenteeism
You have a strict working policy to prevent absenteeism, which costs you money. However, your rules could actually be the cause of tardiness, increased sick days, and no-shows. Research shows that when you allow for flexibility, you see fewer call-outs.
It makes sense: if your employee wakes up with a terrible head cold, they might call out sick. But if you operate a flexible working policy, they might spend an extra few hours in bed but feel well enough to come in after lunch.
Flexible working can also reduce stress among workers. Stress is another major contributor to absenteeism.
It sounds counterintuitive, but if you want your employees to show up, let them come in when they want.
Flexibility Can Transform Your Workplace
If you want to attract new employees and keep your current team happy, then a flexible attendance policy is a little change that can do a lot of good. Flexible attendance gives employees the space to breathe, which means they’ll be more productive when they’re at work.
Do you need help with HR management? Transcend Solutions has years of experience in recruiting and managing top talent. Get in touch to request an employee for your organization.